ProtoprimusCreator: DragonSageGenes: Plant Digestions x1, Long Body x1, Crawling Appendages x1Description: A precursor of things to come, the Protoprimus is a worm that uses a small pair of leg-like appendages to scoot along the sea-floor of the shallows, eating algae as it goes. It's simple design and flexible nature meant it could slither into the deeper ocean, and for short spurts, even onto the beach.

SpoutrootCreator: DragonSageGenes: Fungal Consumption x1, Water Retention x1, Water Intake Channel x1Description: A basic fungus growing on the shores of bodies of water, the spoutroot dug its roots at a diagonal, so as to tap into the limitless water resourse it so closely hugged. These roots were highly conductive of water, and with a slightly porous top and a favorable tide, would take in water so quickly that the little fungus would appear to spout water from its top.

FeederkrillCreator: DragonSageGenes: Plant Digestion x1, Curved Tube Body x1, Tube Swimming x1Description: Looking a lot like a small shrimp or krill, the plain feederkrill was a permanently bent worm in a C shape. This allowed it to spurt forward as it took in water and expelled it from the same side. While innefficient in comparison to other soft-bodied organisms of the era, it stayed close to the stalks of anchor wood that sustained its vast numbers.

SheenshellCreator: DragonSageGenes: Reflective Shell x1, Hinged Shell x1, Filter Feeding x1Description: Looking like a living pearl, the nearly spherical sheenshell had the unique trait of a highly polished shell, maintained by a combination of excretions and symbiotic bacteria on the shell's surface. And oddity, no doubt, the sheenshell was also the first sighting on Xelos of the hinged, bivalve shell, which allowed it to slowly open and close the shell along a well-disguised seam to allow in and out a flow of fresh, nutrient-rich water.

TempradrakumCreator: DragonSageGenes: Long Body x1, Flesh Digestion x1, Multipurpose Appendages x1Description: A flesh-eating counterpart to the protoprimus, the tempradrakum used its appendages to both crawl and occasionally glide through the water for short periods of time. It's primary prey was indeed the protoprimus, and due to their similar size, a tempradrakum would often just slide up behind an unsuspecting protoprimus and keep moving forward, digesting the prey tail first.

InfantryCreator: DragonSageGenes: Fast Reproduction x1, Long Spines x1, Filter Feeding x1Description: Swarming the seafloors where they drifted, the creatures known only as the infantry would quickly overtake and area as they drifted through. Eternally migrating from food sourse to food sourse, their relentless march was never over, nor the hunters at their back. Their long spines helped keep them relatively safe, but as with any infantry unit in enemy territory, there will be casualties.

Interesting mix of creatures, DSage. Hungrymop is quite the competition in the description contest, but we'll see...

I know I might regret saying this in the presence of DSage, but the food chain is tipped a tad too far in the predator section. Could use some more herbivores/slug-eaters...

Also, where are you, other players? I'm gonna PM you and get you to come back.

*looks*

*rereads*

You want herbivores, eh?

*rolls up sleeves*

Twilight GrazerCreator: DragonSageGenes: Pressure Resistance x1, Plant Digestion x1, Surface Adhesion x1Description: Munching on the twilight algae in the murky depths, the twilight grazer sticks to the rocky outcroppings and cliff faces that they grow on. Feasting on a bioluminescent creature allowed it to give off a faint glow itself.

Lesser Grazetube[/b]Creator: DragonSageGenes: Tube Body x1, Plant Digestion x1, Scraping Plate x1Description: A simple herbivorous worm, the lesser grazetube uses the plate at the front tip of its body to remove food stuffs from whatever it is clinging to and digest it.

SeacattleCreator: DragonSageGenes: Large Size x1, Plant Digestion x1, Gastropodal Movement x1Description: Ready and waiting the slaughter, the seacattle is a large, fleshy beast that merely grazes algae from the sea floor of shallow waters. While readily hunted, they reproduce fast enough to maintain their numbers.

LumberwormCreator: DragonSageGenes: Burrowing x1, Long Body x1, Plant Digestion x1Description: Living in the roots of the anchorwood, the lumberworm feasts on the roots so densely laid in its habitat. Rather unimpressive in appearance, but it keeps the anchorwood from growing stagnant in its genome.

I think that enough for now. Just give me a ring if you need more herbivores Oath.

PlaguebringerCreator: DragonSageAncestry: Plaguebringer <- Borer WormGenes Added: Plant Digestion x1, Fast Reproduction x1, Numerous Offspring x1Total Genes: Plant Digestion x2, Plant Burrowing x1, Fast Reproduction x2, Numerous Offspring x1Description: The primative locust of its era, the dreaded plaguebringer was a force to be reckoned with in the premordial undersea forests. Attacking any plant substance, the young worms would burrow and consume with a ferocity that would decimate any organism it entered. The offspring were born in the buds of the attacked plant, as before, but they were not as picky as their ancestors. They could, and would, settle to stay near home. These swarming death-bringers were offset only by hard surfaced plants, which they were unable to burrow through unless they found a soft spot. These pests were relentless and feared, despite being... herbivores.

DreadcrawlerCreator: DragonSageAncestry: Dreadcrawler <- MacabrestalkerGenes Added: Tearing Teeth x1, Crawling Tentacle x2, Large Body x1Total Genes: Flesh Eating x1, Grabbing Tentacle x1, Crawling Tentacle x3, Tearing Teeth x1, Large Body x1Description: Crawling as if from the darkest recesses of your mind, the dreadcrawler inches forward, using three tentacles to drag its massive body along. Atop this amorphous body adorned only with tentacles and bloodstains are several jagged, sharpened teeth designed only to shred anything they touch. A single tentacle floats above it, waiting eagerly... perhaps even twitching in anticipation. The moment something is in its grasp... it is already too late. Dragged down by the muscular tentacle, it is forced into the bowl where it is shredded by its own attempts to escape, and digested as a fleshy flap closes over the gap and flooded with digestive acids. It is dreaded for a reason.Uses 1 Gene Bonus of 3

ScarrenderCreator: DragonSageAncestry: Scarrender <- Leechmaw <- Drainmouth <- VacuummouthGenes Added: Flesh Eating x1, Tearing Teeth x1, Fast Swimming x1Genes Removed: Blood Drinking x1, Gripping Teeth x1Genes: Tube Swimming x1, Flesh Eating x1, Vacuum Mouth x1, Lobe Fins x1, Light-Sensitive Pits x1, Suction x1Description: With the advantage of simple sight and an acquired taste for the flesh of others, the newly revamped Scarrender used every tool at its disposal to become the apex predator. It's body was one big jet-engine, exploiting shape and tubular structure to propel itself at top speed through the water. At its front, the teeth once used to grip to prey was now used to tear chunks of flesh away from their body, leaving jagged wounds that gave the scarrender its name. The light-pits, however primitive, prompted the first bit of strategic hunting in Xelos: attacking from beneath. The scarrender would lie in waiting, pointed upwards until a shadow blocked its veiw of the sunny skies. Then it would rocket up and hone in on that shadow, charging with the ferocity of a feral beast. It would not stop when it finally overtook the prey. Rather it would let the chunk it just ripped violently from the creatures side slip into its body for digestion, then turn around and resume the charge. Sometimes, scarrenders would attack en masse, seeing each other but chosing the less active shadow to attack.

ShotgunCreator: DragonSageAncestry: Shotgun <- Double Barrel <- Tubemouth <- VacuummouthGenes Added: Lobe Fins x1, Fast Swimming x1, Regurgitation x1Genes: Trunk x1, Tube Swimming x2, Flesh Eating x1, Vacuum Mouth x1, Fused Zygotes x1, Lobe Fins x2, Inner Spikes x1, Fast Swimming x1, Regurgitation x1Description: As if it wasn't bizzare enough, the double barrel became even more of a biological enigma. Becoming increasingly stable and agile with a faster swimming mechanism as well as another pair of fins, the shotgun was most noted for its defense, and occasionally offense. When cornered by another predator or unable to attack a prey item as planned, the shotgun stiffens for a moment, then fires. Not shells, not bullets, but digestive acids. These acids not only repel predators, but can even seriously disable them. They are potent enough to partially blind a scarrender. Ever the clown of the seas, none can be sure where the shotgun will veer next.

RampantshellCreator: DragonSageAncestry: Rampantshell <- Quarticshell <- Thrashershells <- Shellfoot <- FiltershellGenes Added: Filter Feeding x1, Tentacle Thrashing x1, Regenerative Tentacle Tissue x1Total Genes: Hard Shell x1, Filter Feeding x2, Crawling x1, Porous Tentacle x4, Spined Shell x1, Increased Size x1, Tentacle Thrashing x1, Regenerative Tentacle Tissue x1Description: Like something out of a bad sci-fi movie, the rampantshell waves its four tentacles in a violent rage. This motion generates a flow of water, keeping a steady stream of nutrients coming into the filtering tentacles, as well as creating motion with which some other organisms may be deturred. This constant thrashing, paired with ocean currents, make it difficult for the rampantshell to keep all four tentacles. Luckily, they are quickly rebuilt thanks to a regenerative tissue at the base of each tentacle.

Necked PincerCreator: DragonSageAncestry: Necked Pincer <- Swiftpincer <- PincerfootGenes Added: Trunk Length x2, Chitin Trunk Armor x1Total Genes: Pincer Claw x1, Trunk x1, Stabilizing Foot x1, Herbivorous Eating x1, Trunk Length x3, Burrowing Appendages x1, Chitin Trunk Armor x1Description: The giraffe of the seas, the necked pincer increased the lengh of its trunk incredibly, allowing the claw at its tip to reach the tips of plants where few other creatures could reach. To protect its soft skin, it developed a chitin coat, not unlike the exoskeleton of an insect, to offer a simple protection for its most valuable tool.

Algae HarvestorCreator: DragonSageAncestry: Algae Harvestor <- AlgaegluttonGenes Added: Gastropodal Movement x1, Half Shell x1, Sticky Mucus x1Total Genes: Scraping Plate x1, Plant Digestion x1, Beaded Skin x1, Gastropodal Movement x1, Half Shell x1, Sticky Mucus x1Description: Snail-like in appearance, the simple algae harvester was not designed to be complex; it was designed to be efficient. Everything about this creature is simple. It is simple bodied, without specified organs. Its defense is a simple shell covering its top half. It finds food by simply oozing slime around it to speed its progress, and using that same slime to stick to stalks of algae growth and feed on the tender bits. It is simply the most efficient herbivore in the seas.

BalloonistCreator: DragonSageAncestry: Balloonist <- Oceanskimmer <- SailbackGenes Added: Water Retention x2, Helium Sac x1Genes: Filter Mouth x1, Buoyancy Sac x1, Membranous Sail x1, Rudder Sail x1, Horizontal Fins x1, Dorsal Fin Size x1, Water Retention x2, Helium Sac x1Description: No longer safe in its surface uptopia thanks to the scarrender, the sailbacks quickly developed a means of escape from the sea itself: the buoyancy sac contained microfilters that only allowed helium to fill it. This would allow fully matured balloonists to skim the surface of the water only occassionally, as they would float above it the rest of the time. However, they could not maintain flight perpetually, and had to return to the ocean to feed. A slow-speed flying fish, this creature was uncanny for its aerial maneuvers, provided a fell wind didn't blow it ashore.

Living ArkCreator: DragonSageAncestry: Living Ark <- Oceanskimmer <- SailbackGenes Added: Horizontal Fin Size x2, White Pigment x1Genes: Filter Mouth x1, Buoyancy Sac x1, Membranous Sail x1, Rudder Sail x1, Horizontal Fins x1, Dorsal Fin Size x1, Horizontal Fin Size x2, White Pigment x1Description: Floating along the surface of the waters, this massive creature's surface blended perfectly with the sun above. It's bright colors, just like a shark's underside, made it indistinguishable for primative eyes to determine there was a creature there. This adaptation proved to make it quite popular, as creature who travelled a lot would swim just under its arcing fins, under the cover of its stealthy coat. From above, it must have looked quite silly, a massive floating white creature. But then again, no eyes from above were tuned in on it.

HungrymopCreator: DragonSageAncestry: Hungrymop <- AquamopGenes Added: Plant Digestion x1, Buoyancy x1, Food-Based Reproductive Trigger x1Total Genes: Flesh Eating x1, Poison Resistance x1, Fast Digestion x1, Plant Digestion x1, Buoyancy x1, Food-Based Reproductive Trigger x1Description: The quilted, quicker picker upper: Hungrymop! Now, twice as versitile! With its newfound buoyancy, it is able to clean up messes whether they hide on the sea floor, or float to the top! And no need to worry about having too many on hand, because new and improved Hungrymop only reproduces while its eating! Tired of that algae-scum just NOT coming out of your precious rock collection? Well Hungrymop now can handle even the toughest plant-based messes! So when you've got some decaying flesh, spreading pests, or and algae infestation, remember... Hungrymop!! (Copyright DragonSage productions 2008)

VeilspongeCreator: DragonSageAncestry: Veilsponge <- Siftsponge <- FilterspongeGenes Added: Bubble-Cloak x1, Feathery Growths x1, Increased Size x1Genes: Filter Feeding x1, Fast Growing x1, Porous Body x1, Feathery Growths x2, Bulbous Body x1, Bubble-Cloak x2, Increased Size x1Description: While not exactly hidden, a massive swell of bubbles doesn't exactly scream "FOOD IN HERE" to creatures. The veilsponge vastly increased the power of its bubble-cloak, truely cloaking its existance from other creatures. The feathery growths spread, covering more of the increased size of the main, elliptical body. The relentless rise of bubbles doesn't even cease when the sponge dies, at least not until it finishes rotting away. But by then, it is gone forever. This organism is almost as rarely seen as it is exotic and unfamiliar.

Bloodsoaked BranchCreator: DragonSageAncestry: Bloodsoaked Branch <- Bloody Branch <- RedbranchGenes Added: Secretion Sacs x1, Filter Feeding x1, Elongated Spines x1Genes: Filter Feeding x3, Filter Hair x1, Thick Stalk x1, Spines x1, Sticky Secretion x1, Secretion Sacs x1, Elongated Spines x1Description: Covetous of its precious life-blood, the bloodsoaked branch began hoarding it in sacs hanging from its branches, like a fruit straight out of a horror story. When punctured or overfilled, these sacs burst the sticky, oozing polysaccharide that once floated freely. The bloodsoaked branch redigests some of the sugars, but allows most of it to coat its deadly skin. Drawn in by the prospect of easy food, the helpless victim will almost always become skewered by the sharp, long spines erupting from the stalk. The dead organism then decays below the sweet smelling, deadly tree. The bloodsoaked branch can then digest the rotting flesh as it floats free into the water around it, and produce even more of its forbidden fruits.

Capped BulbCreator: DragonSageAncestry: Capped Bulb <- VoidrootGenes Added: Circular Cap x1, Vertical Growth x1, Poisonous Cap x1Genes: Nutrient Storage x1, Photosynthesis x1, Bulbous Roots x1, Circular Cap x1, Vertical Growth x1, Poisonous Cap x1Description: Developing a thin, circular disc atop its unimpressive stalk, the voidroot became known as the capped bulb. This disc growing out of the ground vastly improved the surface that could photosynthesize, developing its bulb much faster. The stalk also grew higher, drawing more attention to it. However, it was still largely ignored by grazers because its cap is laced with a deadly toxin.

Take THAT Oath! Two updates a year, here we come.

Also, with Oath's permission, I would like to personally invite everyone to come take a look at Anabasis. Not only do we have a world vaguely akin to this one, we also have a new project going on called "Anabasis: Lunar Life", where we are evolving extraterrestrial life on a hospitable moon of a gas giant. The moon we are on now is called Grannos, an icy moon with networks of underground rivers bored in the ice. I hope you will take a look! (Also, if a topic is locked, it is being updated and should be unlocked in a few days to a week as a new topic)

Both creatures are fine, but I'm gonna change 'Anti-Internal Mutation Measures' to 'Genetic Immune System', a broader and less wordy term. And as for the second one...I guess I know who's gonna win the description award!

You count me out before seeing ANY of my creations? Oath, I've had seven months to concoct these specimens! In all seriousness, great description, Minotaur. The only question is how to make floating Seamops.

Creativity, ho! BTW, Oath, did you realize the Pincerfoot had no dietary gene when you made it? I added it in this time for its forking evolution.

Bloody BranchCreator: DragonSageAncestor: Red BranchGenes Added: Spines x1, Sticky Secretion x1, Filter Feeding x1Total Genes: Filter Feeding x2, Filter Hair x1, Thick Stalk x1, Spines x1, Sticky Secretion x1Description: The oceans near the colonies of Red Branches began to grow thick with a polysacchiride secretion from the newest members of the Red Branch family. Due to advanced feeding ability, they were able to gather more nutrients than they needed. They then excreted these extra nutrients to let it float about them for when they needed it. In defense of their cloud of syrupy food-stock, the Bloody Branches developed spines covering their body, to detur most save the hungriest organisms.

SiftspongeCreator: DragonSageAncestor: FilterspongeGenes Added: Feathery Growths x1, Bulbous Body x1, Bubble-Cloak x1Total Genes: Filter Feeding x1, Fast Growing x1, Porous Body x1, Feathery Growths x1, Bulbous Body x1, Bubble-Cloak x1Description: The Filtersponge underwent massive changes during this flourishing era. It developed a ring of small, feathery growths on its surface-facing side, which gathered nutrients much easier than the rest of its body. These growths helped gorge the sponges on food, growing them to near-spheres. As their pores grew more numerous with time, so too did their uses. A simple chemical was manufactured within the new Siftsponges, which caused the water to be squirted from the pores, leaving a little bubble. A near-constant updraft of bubbles pores from the Siftsponge, like smoke from a chimney. By keeping the gradient of water flowing towards it, the Siftsponge ensures it has enough food at all times.

CrusherclawCreator: DragonSageAncestor: PincerfootGenes Added: Strong Claw x1, Chitin Shell x1, Carnivorous Eating x1Total Genes: Pincer Claw x1, Trunk x1, Stabilizing Foot x1, Strong Claw x1, Chitin Shell x1, Carnivorous Eating x1Descriptoin: A deadly force when on the hunt, the Crusherclaw was merely a Pincerfoot amplified in every way. Its claw was stronger, its feeding methods more effective, its body was now armored. The thin chitin coat did not protect it from pointed, powerful strikes, but it prevented any injuries that would be accidentally acquired by a thrashing prey item. Its greater crushing power allowed it to cripple most anything that was unfortunate enough to swim into its path.

SwiftpincerCreator: DragonSageAncestor: PincerfootGenes Added: Herbivorous Eating x1, Trunk Length x1, Burrowing Appendages x1Total Genes: Pincer Claw x1, Trunk x1, Stabilizing Foot x1, Herbivorous Eating x1, Trunk Length x1, Burrowing Appendages x1Description: Veering in a new evolutionary direction, the Swiftpincer specialized in using its longer, more agile trunk and claw to pick off choice bits of plant material to digest. However, since plants don't move, a pair of small crab-like legs were developed to help it slowly burrow through the loose sands of its home. The migrating pincers make for an odd show to any onlooker, as they exert all their energy in moving forward, and thusly cannot expend any in keeping their pincers from doing anything but floating free in the current.

Well, could he evolve basic air-'breathing' through osmosis? While I agree lungs are far-fetched (especially in a slug) that should be possible, right? (I'm a biology newbie)

II don't have the authority to give the final decision on this, but my interpretation of what I'm seeing is this. Oath wants us to have a relatively advanced internal breathing structure before we can make the jump to lungs. We need to have something beyond simple diffusion of oxygen through the skin. For example, we might develop patches of skin that are better at absorbing oxygen, then perhaps where those patches were, we develop simple slits to begin working like gills to push more water through them. Then after that, we could move on to a more advanced gill, or build up internal structure and go the way of lungs. Just my interpretation of it, Oath may be able to do a better job of explaining.

And since I'm posting...

Miner SlugCreator: DragonSageGenes: Burrowing Head x1, Gastropodal Movement x1, Plant Digestion x1Description: A rather simple, dirt-colored slug that slides around along the sea bottom. It nubbles on the tender bases of the seawood, burrowing under the sands and rocks to get at deeper bits. It is slow and easy to eat, but is just prolific enough to carve a niche for itself in the ever growing sea-forests.

Must resist urge to make another...organism... Urk... not... resisting well... *uses this an excuse to not write closing statement for mock trial*

DriftleavesCreator: DragonSageGenes: Photosynthesis x1, Fast Reproduction x1, Clumped Growth x1Description: The Driftleaves are a sort of algae that drits like an underwater tumbleweed, end over end at the mercy of the current. The small ball-like organisms grow in moderately large cumps, rotating thier empty sphere colony so no buds go without sunlight for too long. When two clumps meet, the sex cells mingle easily and a the proverbial seeds of a new colony are sewn. In reality, the cells begin growing right away, no seeds involved.

TurboslugCreator: DragonsageGenes: Water Propulsion Jet x1, Plant Eating x1, Gastropodal Movement x1Description: A small, simple gastropod, the turboslug slowly crawls along the bottom of the sea as it grazes on algae. When it senses a predator coming at it, it uses a simple pump to dart forward quickly, hopefully avoiding being eaten. When it isn't busy darting about to avoid being eaten, it uses its stomach to crawl around at a leisurely pace.

Twilight AlgaeCreator: DragonSageGenes Chemiosythesis x1, Fast Reproduction x1, Bioluminescence x1Description: A deep ocean dweller, the twilight algae isn't really an algae, but a large group of bacteria that clusters together into a unique type of organism. It synthesizes the chemicals in the ocean depths released by faults and vents into the sugars it needs to survive. The reactions cause it to emit a faint, eerie blue light that illumiates some of the inky depths. This simple organism reproduces quickly, as its lifespan isn't too long.

Kinda what I was going for, Oath. Just your average random schooling thing that there is too much of to kill but supports many a predator. And since I'm posting, might as well kick out another one I had stewing. Also not sure of the term you want used for how fungi get their food, so I just used a generic term. Let me know if you want it changed.

DustsporeCreator: DragonSageGenes: Water Storage x1, Fungal Consumption x1, Spore Reproduction x1Description: A tiny, prolific little organism that feeds off of the remains of any dead or dying thing on land. Its dust-like spores, large enough to see with the naked eye with a careful glance, are its namesake and key to survival. By spreading its genes on the wind, offspring are almost guranteed. When small clusters form, they feed relentlessly on their dying companions. One way they are readily able to survive the harsh, aboveground conditions is the adaptation of a small sac in the middle of the growth that stores excess water that is slowly used in drought conditions.